Christmas 2011 was beautiful, of course because it was Jesus' birthday!

This title speaks volumes for us, because Gentry really understands that Christmas is about Jesus' birthday, not present, candy canes, Santa or ChipLeigh! But that doesn't stop her from asking "Can I get that for Christmas too??" And it is the 26th... It made me very proud when I would ask her,"Why do we celebrate Christmas?" and she would smile and say "It is Jesus' birthday Mommy!"
    These past few weeks (Since I haven't updated for many days) we have been busy, needless to say!  We had Gentry's 1st preschool program which was quite the adventure. She stood there with her arms covering her eyes the ENTIRE time...all 15 minutes of it. At first she walked in with a crimson face, (Poor poor child got my wonderful trait) and then looked down and last but not least put those little arms up over her beautiful face. I was kinda disappointed, only because I knew she had practiced and practiced and knew the words to the songs. She later told me, "Mommy I was just embarress." I feel her pain, really I know what it is like to have that hot feeling in your face and you just wanna cover your eyes, which she did:) We went around to stations in her class and made ornaments, watched a picture video of the past school year and played bingo. Then had a plethera of sweets, just the beginning of all the millions we had this weekend:/
   Christmas Eve we did our traditional Eve service, pizza for dinner and gifts at Nana and Papa's. It was a blast as usual. It was also Dash and Gavyn's first Christmas', so that is always exciting to see how they react. Dash loved the paper and Gavyn just sat there trying to doze off:)  Earlier in the day we were invited to The Hopp's for lunch. They served a delicious Roast Soup, as well as many snacky type items. They are a wonderful family and so glad they included us this year. To end the day, G and I sprinkled Reindeer food on the lawn for Rudolph and all his reindeer pals and left cookies and milk for Santa. She also hugged ChipLeigh good-bye, as ChipLeigh had typed a letter the evening before and let G know she was heading back to the North Pole and really enjoyed her stay and making G laugh at the silly things she did. I have to say I will kinda miss that ChipLeigh and her silly antics:)
   Christmas morning we got up nice and early and went out to see if Santa came, he did:) Ace went bonkers over his Brobie shirt and vacuum. He walked around all morning carrying his new Brobie from Papa and Nana, pushing the vacuum and wearing his Brobie shirt over his jammies, super cute lil man:) G got some books, Dora Dance for the Wii,  tickets to Disney Live, boots, puzzles and a few little fun stocking stuffers from Santa.We ate biscuits and gravy, thanks to the Warrens. We headed over to Nana and Papa's for lunch, er a smorgasboard of food!  This meal was with mom's side and then dinner was with Papa's side. For dinner we did soup and sides.
   Today we went to Wichita for shopping. We found a few good deals and G got a purple mini tree for her room for next year. We rode down with Dash and B. It was great to have some quality time with them, since we dont get to see them very often.  This evening we had our final Christmas celebration at John and Katy's for the Aichele's. We did a fish fry/rib fest. It is always fun to get D, Amelia and G together so they can run their little hearts out!
   All in all the Christmas 2011 was wonderful and we are very blessed. Thank you Jesus!

 

Holiday Sheenigans

This week has been very cold, so that could only mean one thing, Christmas is near! (Well it could mean many more, but thinking positive!) Gentry has been singing all the new Christmas songs she is learning at school and I completely LOVE it! She sings "Ring the Bells" and on the 3rd line she mumbles something that sounds like "A seemacheena eberywhere that Christmas time is here".♥ her so much:) Luke and I purposely don't correct her because we love the way she sings or says things a little different.
On Wednesday we spent the whole day with Grandma Betty. It was so nice to spend all day with her. We dont get to see her all that often and I really enjoyed catching up with her. I think we need to start doing this more. We got G from school and went to lunch at The Deli afterwards. It was so good and we haven't been there for a while. Betty and I relaxed while the beans napped. Then we trimmed and curled her hair and headed back to take her home. We had dinner with Whitney, Josh and Chloe at Pizza Hut that evening before they headed to Haiti for their honeymoon.
Thursday morning, we decided to skip the Y  and go out for doughnuts and Wal-mart shopping instead. Makes a lot of sense, huh?  We usually stick to a schedule because I like that, but sometimes it is fun to mix things up a bit. We went to Walmart so G could pick out a few things she was wanting for Christmas. Stupid Idea! (Don't say that!G always gets after me if I say stupid) I told her Nana wanted a few ideas for Christmas and she just thought she was getting it all right then and there. "I will take one of these and yea the Dora house too...." Sorry G:/
    Friday evening we went to "Winter Wonderland". It is a small building where they have a train and lots of lights and music. When we got there, G's friend, Becca and her family were there as well. I rode the train with the beans and Daddy got a few snapshots and then went inside, because he was cold, pshhh! :) Ace sat on my lap and just smiled the whole time and seemed so amazed at all the lights. It is so awesome to see the wonder and amazement through a child's eyes. Sounds cliche, but it is true!
   Saturday Maci and I took the beans and Chloe to see Santa and then to the Olivia Christmas movie at the theater. (Daddy went to see his favorite team, Ohio State, play KU in Lawrence.) We were the only people at the movie, I mean literally us and the one guy working the front counter! They did pretty good, minus the few Taridactal squaks my son makes. Speaking of those, he has been waking up every morning around 5:30am and squaking like a dinosaur! It is cray cray and not a good start to the day. Back to Saturday, after the movie we ate lunch with Maci and then went home for naps. We went back to Nana and Papa's, our 2nd home, and hung out until close to bedtime. Chloe spent the night with us that night. All I can say after having all 3 kiddos, is I am SO glad we only have 2 babies! I would go to the nut house with 3 kids. How my mom did it with 6, is beyond me! Super Woman right there!
     Today we went to church and afterwards I took some "Me" time and went to Wal-mart all by myself and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! After lunch, G and I made Red Velvet cake mix cookies for her babysitters, our neighbors and the wife of one of Luke's clients. (He passed away earlier this year. G went with Daddy to the nursing home a few times while Luke cut his hair and G called him "Fritzy baby". His name was Fritz.) We drove around and looked at lights for a while after that. We went by the house in town that has the light set up to the radio music. The beans loved it! Once again, watching the kids faces just made me so happy. They seem in awe over it.
    This last week our Advents have been: 5) Take food to the food bank. 6) Bake treats for neighbors. 7)Watch a Christmas movie. 8)Listen to Christmas songs. (Thanks to Whit we have the new Bieber Christmas and it plays on repeat in the van!) 9)Read the Christmas Story. 10)Make treats for Jenny. (The homeless girl in town) 11) Drive around and look at Christmas lights. Little Miss ChipLeigh has been rather ornery as well, eating a whole chocolate bar and getting a belly ache, playing Chutes and Ladders, hiding in G's bag so she can go to Pre-school with her, wearing a jacket and chilling in the fridge, literally! Every night G says "I wonder what ChipLeigh will be doing in the morning. That crazy girl!" One night she didn't move though, because G was especially naughty the day before. On an exciting note, Ace has been trying to say "Thank you". Very cute!

Sprinkle doughnut and Strawberry milk make this gal smile!

Doughnut holes and white milke for this little man:)

Had to post this picture...G was taking a picture of Max and I love her little foot.

At the library

He looks very long in this picture, but unfortunatly, he is vertically challenged like his mama. Hope that changes!

Playing!

Chloe smiling:)

G making cookies with Mommy:) One of our favorite things to do together!

On the train with Becca and Megan

Cheesy X 2!

Mama and Ace K♥

Countdown to Christmas

I can't believe it is almost Christmas time! I am very excited, because I love this time of the year. I get very giddy like a child when I think of all the Christmasey things we get to do. This year Gentry and I made an advent calendar. Our 1st 4 days have consisted of: Day 1-Getting an Angel tree child and giving a gift. Day 2-Read and talk about the Christmas story and discuss how Jesus got 3 gifts. (We are starting a tradition to only give 3 gifts to each child at Christmas so they tie together the meaning of Christmas with gifts) Day 3- Donate hats and mittens to the Mitten tree at the bank. Day 4-Roast Marshmallows in the fireplace. Undoubtly, the 4th day is G's favorite so far:) We also have had a friend come live with us and her name is ChipLeigh. She is an elf from the North Pole. Some people may know her as "The Elf on the Shelf". She is quite the ornery little gal. So far she has been in the pantry, got out coconut to make snow angels, made a snowman out of marshmallows, had a teaparty with Stitch and slept under the Christmas tree!
          To make the most out of the Christmas season, I took G to the Grinch Who Stole Christmas movie at the Opera House. She of course asked a million questions even though she has seen the movie at least 9 times.  On Saturday evening after the movie, we had Luke's Barber shop Christmas party at Diamaru's in Salina. It is Luke's favorite Hibachi Steakhouse. We had fun with Kris and his wife, as well as Ed and his sweet little wife, Sylvia.
    Ace speaking update: He can now recognize Dora and say "Dor!" He also says "Yea Yea" when he sees anything Yo Gabba Gabba! Very adorable!

G's letter to Santa

Sending it off to Santa, in exchange for some twizzlers.

A surprise seeing Santa at Walmart!

G trying on some new glasses

G and D sleeping under the Christmas tree:)

ChipLeigh having a tea party with Stitch

Ace playing in the leaves! He loved the crunch

Love these 2!

Making snow angels

See that tiny bit of pink, that's the "piece" of cake pop that G saved for Daddy. The initial plan was to share the whole thing, then turned into save a bite and then, a crumb.

Acer colouring! His new favorite thing:) Then he rips out the page and hands it to me with a huge proud smile:)

ChipLeigh and her snowman with Fiber One arms:)

We had Toddler church duty this morning and this is how Ace felt about it!